A fresh controversy has erupted between the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) over allegations of a Christian genocide in Nigeria — a claim that has drawn international attention following recent comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, Secretary-General of the NSCIA, dismissed the genocide allegations as false, divisive, and politically motivated. He accused sections of the Western media and certain political figures of spreading the narrative as part of a “coordinated campaign to destabilise Nigeria.”
“There is no Christian terrorism, no Muslim terrorism, and no religious war in Nigeria,” Oloyede said.
“Our tragedy is rooted in poverty, bad governance, climate change, and criminality — not religious persecution. Some foreign actors and local separatists are exploiting the insecurity for political and financial gain.”
Oloyede further alleged that the renewed U.S. designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” was a political tool, not a reflection of the real situation on the ground. He urged both the Nigerian government and the international community to reject false narratives and instead focus on supporting Nigeria’s anti-terrorism efforts through intelligence and logistics assistance.
However, Bishop Wale Oke, President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, maintained that the ongoing violence against Christians in parts of the country amounts to genocide.
“There is Christian genocide in Nigeria — no other name fits,” Oke asserted during a visit to the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, over the weekend.
“No Christian group is attacking Muslims. The patience of the Church is being stretched beyond measure.”
The PFN leader pointed to attacks by extremist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandit cells that claim to act in the name of Islam, though he clarified that these groups do not represent the wider Muslim community.
Citing cases like the killing of Deborah Samuel, the abduction of Leah Sharibu and the Chibok girls, as well as deadly attacks in Benue, Taraba, Southern Kaduna, Owo, Niger, and Plateau, Oke lamented the continued slaughter of Christians and the destruction of communities.
While expressing gratitude to Trump for raising global concern, Bishop Oke urged him to avoid military intervention, suggesting instead that the U.S. should support the Nigerian government diplomatically and strategically.
“President Tinubu should cooperate with Trump to tackle radical groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP. This is not the time to play politics with people’s lives,” Oke said.
During the meeting, Oba Rashidi Ladoja sympathised with affected Christian communities, noting that Nigeria had lost thousands of lives and properties worth trillions due to persistent insecurity.
“Terrorists don’t differentiate between Muslims and Christians,” the Olubadan stated. “They see everyone as prey. We must unite against them rather than fight along religious lines.”
Meanwhile, APC chieftain Olatunbosun Oyintiloye in Osun State cautioned against welcoming foreign troop deployment to Nigeria, warning that such a move could worsen the security situation.
“At this critical period, Nigerians — regardless of religion or politics — must rally behind President Tinubu to defeat terrorism,” Oyintiloye said in a statement. “Foreign soldiers may complicate matters. What we need is cooperation, intelligence sharing, and equipment support.”
He stressed that the killings affect both Christians and Muslims, insisting that Nigeria’s unity and sovereignty must remain paramount.
As public debate intensifies, the Tinubu administration has reportedly begun diplomatic engagements with U.S. officials to manage the fallout from Trump’s remarks and prevent further escalation.
